Moving image reproducing apparatus, moving image reproducing method, and computer-readable storage medium storing program

ABSTRACT

One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to a technique, when a moving image file is divided and divisional moving images are reproduced simultaneously in a plurality of display areas, for allowing a user to easily search for a desired scene in the entire moving image more quickly. A moving image reproducing apparatus divides a moving image to generate a plurality of divisional moving images and reproduces the divisional moving images simultaneously. If the user issues an instruction to divide a first divisional moving image that is being reproduced and generate a plurality of second divisional moving images, in response to the instruction, the apparatus acquires a reproduction position of the first divisional moving image. The apparatus starts reproduction of the plurality of second divisional moving images at a position corresponding to the acquired reproduction position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a technique for dividinga moving image into a plurality of divisional moving images andreproducing the divisional moving images.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is a conventional technique that divides a moving image into aplurality of divisional moving images, and simultaneously displays thedivisional moving images in a plurality of display areas for searchingfor a desired scene in the moving image.

However, based on such conventional technique, if the reproduction timeof a moving image is very long, even if the moving image is divided, thereproduction time of each of the divisional moving images is still long.Thus, much time is required to search for a desired scene. In addition,to shorten the reproduction time of each of such divided moving images,a moving image may be divided into many divisional moving images and thedivisional moving images may be displayed simultaneously. However, ifthe number of divisional moving images is increased, the user may notview the moving images easily. Thus, the user may easily miss a desiredscene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One disclosed aspect of the embodiments is directed to a techniqueallowing a user to search for a desired scene in a moving image morequickly and easily.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, a moving image reproducingapparatus includes a division unit configured to divide a moving imageto generate a plurality of divisional moving images, a reproduction unitconfigured to reproduce the plurality of divisional moving imagessimultaneously, a reception unit configured to receive an instruction todivide one of a plurality of first divisional moving images and generatea plurality of second divisional moving images during reproduction ofthe first divisional moving images, an acquisition unit configured toacquire a reproduction position of the first divisional moving image inresponse to reception of the instruction for division, a calculationunit configured to calculate time from a beginning position of thesecond divisional moving image including the acquired reproductionposition to the acquired reproduction position of the second divisionalmoving image, and a control unit configured to control reproduction ofthe plurality of second divisional moving images by the reproductionunit so that the reproduction starts from a point where the calculatedtime has elapsed from the beginning of each of the second divisionalmoving images.

Further features and aspects of the embodiments will become apparentfrom the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an operation of theimage processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of screens according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate examples of screens according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of how a moving image file is dividedaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the embodimentswill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Onedisclosed feature of the embodiments may be described as a process whichis usually depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a timing diagram, astructure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart or a timingdiagram may describe the operations or events as a sequential process,the operations may be performed, or the events may occur, in parallel orconcurrently. An operation in a flowchart may be optional. In addition,the order of the operations or events may be re-arranged. A process isterminated when its operations are completed. A process may correspondto a method, a program, a procedure, a method of manufacturing orfabrication, a sequence of operations performed by an apparatus, amachine, or a logic circuit, etc.

A configuration of a computer apparatus constituting an image processingapparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment will be describedwith reference to a block diagram in FIG. 1. The image processingapparatus may be realized by a single computer apparatus. Alternatively,the image processing apparatus may be realized by distributing variousfunctions to a plurality of computer apparatuses as needed. If aplurality of computer apparatuses are used, these computer apparatusesare connected to each other via a local area network (LAN) or the liketo enable mutual communication.

In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 101such as a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire imageprocessing apparatus 100. The image processing apparatus 100 furtherincludes a read-only memory (ROM) 102 and a random access memory (RAM)103. The ROM 102 stores programs and parameters which need not to bechanged. The RAM 103 temporarily stores programs and data pieces whichare supplied from an external apparatus or the like.

The image processing apparatus 100 further includes an external storagedevice 104, such as a hard disk fixedly disposed in the image processingapparatus 100 or a memory card that may be attached to and detached fromthe image processing apparatus 100. The external storage device 104stores an operating system (OS) and an image management applicationsoftware program (which will hereinafter be referred to as “imagemanagement application”). The control unit 101 reads the OS and theimage management application from the external storage device 104 andactivates them. Based on the OS and application, the control unit 101operates and controls other units to realize the present exemplaryembodiment. In addition, the external storage device 104 stores movingimage files and still image files associated withhierarchically-structured folders.

The image processing apparatus 100 further includes an operation unitinterface 105, a display interface 106, and a network interface 107. Theoperation unit interface 105 is connected to an operation unit 109 (aninput device such as a pointing device or a keyboard) receiving useroperation to input data. The display interface 106 is connected to amonitor 110 displaying data stored in the image processing apparatus 100and supplied data. The network interface 107 connects the imageprocessing apparatus 100 to a network line 111 such as the Internet. Asystem bus 113 connects the above-described units 101 to 107 tocommunicate with each other. An image input device 112 is connected toan image input interface 108.

Next, an operation of the image processing apparatus 100 will bedescribed with reference to a flow chart in FIG. 2. First, in operationS201, the control unit 101 reads and activates the image managementapplication and displays a window 300 on the monitor 110.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of the window 300 displayed on themonitor 110 in operation S201. A folder tree 301 displays a folderstructure including moving and still image files stored in the externalstorage device 104.

An upper-layer folder area 302 includes a plurality of lower-layerfolder areas 303 corresponding to lower-layer folders directly belongingto a predetermined upper-layer folder. For example, the predeterminedupper-layer folder is a folder specified by a user from among foldersdisplayed in the folder tree 301.

The lower-layer folder areas 303 display thumbnail images 304 and 305,which respectively correspond to still image files and moving imagefiles belonging to the lower-layer folders. An icon displayed near themoving-image-file correspondence thumbnail image 305 indicates that thethumbnail image 305 corresponds to a moving image file.

If the user selects one of the lower-layer folder areas 303 displayed inthe window 300 in FIG. 3A, the control unit 101 displays a selectedlower-layer folder area 313 as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The lower-layerfolder area 313 displays thumbnail images 314 and 315 which respectivelycorrespond to still image files and moving image files belonging to theselected lower-layer folder.

In operation S202, the control unit 101 selects a thumbnail imagedisplayed in the window 300 in FIG. 3A or 3B, in accordance with theuser operation.

In operation S203, the control unit 101 determines whether the selectedthumbnail image corresponds to a moving image file. If the selectedthumbnail image does not correspond to a moving image file (NO inoperation S203), the processing proceeds to operation S204. In operationS204, the control unit 101 reads a still image file corresponding to theselected thumbnail image from the external storage device 104 anddisplays the corresponding enlarged still image in a display area in thewindow 300.

Whereas, if the selected thumbnail image corresponds to a moving imagefile (YES in operation S203), then in operation S205, the control unit101 reads the moving image file corresponding to the thumbnail imagefrom the external storage device 104 and reproduces a moving image inthe window 300, as illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of the window 300 displayed on themonitor 110 in operation S205. In a moving image display area 411, themoving image file corresponding to the thumbnail image selected inoperation S202 is reproduced. A reproduction guide 415 displays whichpart of the entire moving image file is a reproduction target in themoving image display area 411. In FIG. 4A, since the entire moving imagefile is the reproduction target in the moving image display area 411,the entire reproduction guide 415 is highlighted by a thick frame.

A reproduction time bar 416 represents the entire reproduction time ofthe moving image file as the reproduction target in the moving imagedisplay area 411. A slider 417 on the reproduction time bar 416indicates the current reproduction position. If the user moves theslider 417, the reproduction position is changed. The user may use azoom-in icon 418 to divide the moving image file as the reproductiontarget in the moving image display area 411 and to reproduce divisionalmoving image files.

The user may use reproduction control icons 410 to stop, pause, andresume reproduction of the moving image file in the moving image displayarea 411. In FIG. 4A, since the user may not zoom out the moving image,which is described below, a zoom-out icon is not displayed.

In operation S206, the control unit 101 executes initialization byassigning zero (0) to a division depth D. In operation S221, the controlunit 101 determines whether the user has input a zoom-in instruction.The user may use the operation unit 109 and click the zoom-in icon 418to input the zoom-in instruction.

If the control unit 101 receives the zoom-in instruction (YES inoperation S221), then in operation S222, the control unit 101 adds 1 tothe division depth D. In operation S223, the control unit 101 acquiresthe current reproduction position of the moving image file in the movingimage display area 411.

In operation S224, the control unit 101 divides the selected movingimage file by a predetermined number N to generate N pieces ofdivisional moving image files. The predetermined number N is set in theimage management application in advance, and the user may change thepredetermined number N.

In operation S225, among the N pieces of the divisional moving imagefiles, the control unit 101 sets the divisional moving image fileincluding the current reproduction position acquired in operation S223as a current divisional moving image. In operation S226, the controlunit 101 calculates the elapsed time from the beginning of the currentdivisional moving image to the current reproduction position.

In operation S227, the control unit 101 sets the start position of eachof the divisional moving image files from the beginning thereof to theposition corresponding to the elapsed time calculated in operation S226.In operation S228, the control unit 101 simultaneously startsreproduction of the individual divisional moving image files.

Hereinafter, the description will be made, assuming that thereproduction time of the entire moving image file is 64 minutes and thepredetermined number N is 4. In FIG. 4A, the entire moving image file isthe reproduction target in the moving image display area 411.

In this case, in operation 224, the control unit 101 divides the entiremoving image file by the predetermined number 4 and generates fourdivisional moving image files each containing a 16-minute moving image,i.e., from the beginning to 16 minutes, 16 to 32 minutes, 32 to 48minutes, and 48 minutes to the end.

In operation S223, if the control unit 101 acquires the currentreproduction position at 40 minutes, in operation S226, the control unit101 calculates that the elapsed time is 8 minutes. Then in operationS227, the control unit 101 sets positions after 8 minutes from thebeginning of each of the individual divisional moving image files in themoving image display areas 421 to 424 as the respective reproductionstart positions. Namely, the control unit 101 sets 8 minutes, 24minutes, 40 minutes, and 56 minutes as the respective reproduction startpositions.

Thus, even when reproducing these divisional moving image files, theuser may start viewing the image at the reproduction position before theimage is divided. Thus, since the user may continue checking a scene,operational continuity may be maintained. As a result, the user mayeasily search for a scene of interest.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the window 300 displayed on themonitor 110 in operation S228. The divisional moving image files aredisplayed in the respective moving image display areas 421 to 424, andnumbers indicating the order of the divisional moving image files aredisplayed near the respective moving image display areas. Only themoving image file displayed in the selected moving image display areareproduces sound. In this way, since sound of a single moving image fileis reproduced, the user may easily listen to the sound of the selectedmoving image file.

A reproduction guide 425 indicates the part of the divisional movingimage files as the reproduction targets displayed in the moving imagedisplay areas 421 to 424 among the entire moving image. In FIG. 4B,since the divisional image files that are obtained by dividing theentire moving image file are the reproduction targets in the movingimage display areas 421 to 424, the entire reproduction guide 425 ishighlighted by a thick frame. In addition, the reproduction guide 425displays parting lines to indicate divided positions corresponding tothe divisional moving image files in the entire moving image file. Theseparting lines indicate positions of 16 minutes, 32 minutes, and 48minutes from the beginning of the moving image file.

The reproduction guide 425 also displays a number in each of the blocks,and these numbers correspond to the numbers displayed near the movingimage display areas 421 to 424. In addition, if the user selects one ofthe moving image display areas 421 to 424, the control unit 101highlights the selected moving image display area and a correspondingblock in the reproduction guide 425.

In FIG. 4B, the moving image display area 422 is selected andhighlighted by a thick frame, and the block 2 in the reproduction guide425 is highlighted by diagonal lines. By checking such display, the usermay check where the divisional moving image file as the reproductiontarget in the moving image display areas 421 to 424 is located in theentire moving image file.

A reproduction time bar 426 indicates the entire reproduction time ofeach of the divisional moving image files as the reproduction targets inthe moving image display areas 421 to 424. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the reproduction time is 16 minutes. A slider 427 on thereproduction time bar 426 indicates the current reproduction positioncommon to each of the divisional moving image files. If the user movesthe slider 427, the reproduction position of each of the divisionalmoving image files is changed simultaneously. In addition, the starttime 16 minutes and the end time 32 minutes of the divisional movingimage file as the reproduction target in the selected moving imagedisplay area 422 are displayed near the reproduction time bar 426.

By selecting one of the moving image display areas 421 to 424 andpressing a zoom-in icon 428, the user may further divide a correspondingdivisional moving image file by the predetermined number. In this way,the user may reproduce further divisional moving images. The user mayuse a zoom-out icon 429 to integrate the divisional moving image filesas the reproduction targets in the moving image display areas 421 to424. In this way, the user may reproduce an integrated moving image.

In S229, the control unit 101 detects that the user has selected one ofthe moving image display areas 421 to 424. Then, the control unit 101returns the processing to operation S221.

Hereinafter, the present exemplary embodiment will be described,assuming that the user judges that a desired scene is included in thedivisional moving image file currently being reproduced in the movingimage display area 422 and selects the moving image display area 422 inoperation S229.

In such a case, in operation S223, the control unit 101 acquires thecurrent reproduction position of the divisional moving image file in themoving image display area 422. In addition, in operation S224, thecontrol unit 101 divides the divisional moving image file in the movingimage display area 422 by the predetermined number N to generatesecondary divisional moving image files. In operation S228, the window300 as illustrated in FIG. 4C is displayed on the monitor 110.

In FIG. 4C, the individual divisional moving image files are reproducedin respective moving image display areas 431 to 434, and numbersindicating the order of the divisional moving image files correspondingto the moving image display area 422 are displayed near the moving imagedisplay areas 431 to 434. A reproduction guide 435 displays where thedivisional moving image files as the reproduction targets in the movingimage display areas 431 to 434 are located in the divisional movingimage file in the moving image display area 422.

In FIG. 4C, the moving image display areas 431 to 434 reproduce thedivisional moving image files obtained by dividing the divisional movingimage file in the moving image display area 422. Thus, in the entirereproduction guide 435, portions corresponding to the divisional movingimage file in the moving image display area 422 are highlighted by athick frame.

In addition, the reproduction guide 435 displays parting lines toindicate divided positions corresponding to the divisional moving imagefiles of the divisional moving image file in the moving image displayarea 422. In this case, each of the divisional moving image files is 4minutes long. The parting lines indicate time 20 minutes, 24 minutes,and 28 minutes from the beginning of the moving image file. Further, thereproduction guide 435 also displays a number in each of the blocks, andthese numbers correspond to the numbers displayed near the moving imagedisplay areas 431 to 434.

If the user selects one of the moving image display areas 431 to 434,the control unit 101 highlights the selected moving image display areaand a corresponding block in the reproduction guide 435. In FIG. 4C, themoving image display area 433 is selected and highlighted by a thickframe, and the block 3 in the reproduction guide 435 is highlighted bydiagonal lines.

A reproduction time bar 436 indicates the entire reproduction time ofeach of the divisional moving image files as the reproduction targets inthe moving image display areas 431 to 434. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the reproduction time is 4 minutes. A slider 437 on thereproduction time bar 436 indicates the current reproduction positioncommon to each of the divisional moving image files. If the user movesthe slider 437, the reproduction position of each of the divisionalmoving image files is changed simultaneously. In addition, the starttime 24 minutes and the end time 28 minutes of the divisional movingimage file as the reproduction target in the selected moving imagedisplay area 433 are displayed near the reproduction time bar 436.

By repeating a zoom-in operation in this way, the user may narrow downmoving image files of the reproduction targets and find one including adesired scene. Further, since the reproduction time is sequentiallyshortened from 64 minutes to 16 minutes and to 4 minutes, the user mayquickly search for a desired scene more easily.

If the control unit 101 receives no zoom-in instruction (NO in operationS221), the processing proceeds to operation S241. In operation S241, thecontrol unit 101 determines whether the user has input a zoom-outinstruction. If the zoom-out instruction is input (YES in operationS241), then in operation S242, the control unit 101 subtracts 1 from thedivision depth D. In operation S243, the control unit 101 determineswhether the division depth D is 0.

If the division depth D is 0 (YES in S243), the control unit 101 returnsthe processing to operation S205.

If not (NO in operation S243), then in operation S261, the control unit101 divides the entire moving image file by the predetermined number Nto the division depth D-th power.

In operation S262, the control unit 101 acquires the currentreproduction position of the divisional moving image file. In operationS263, the control unit 101 sets the divisional moving image fileincluding the current reproduction position as the current divisionalmoving image. In operation S264, a divisional moving image file groupincluding the current divisional moving image is selected as a displaytarget. Then, the control unit 101 advances the processing to operationS226.

The divisional moving image files, which are obtained by dividing theentire moving image file by the predetermined number N to the divisiondepth D-th power in operation S261, are separated into divisional movingimage file groups, each including N moving images, sequentially from thebeginning of the entire moving image. Subsequently, in operation S264,the divisional moving image file group as the display target is selectedfrom the groups.

If the control unit 101 receives no zoom-out instruction (NO inoperation S241), the control unit 101 ends the processing.

An operation of dividing a moving image file executed in response to thezoom-in or zoom-out instruction will be described with reference to FIG.5. When the division depth D is zero, if the control unit 101 receivesthe zoom-in instruction, the control unit 101 increments the divisiondepth D by 1. As a result, four divisional moving image files 511 to 514are displayed in the window 300.

If the user selects the divisional moving image file 512 and issues thezoom-in instruction, the control unit 101 increments the division depthD to 2. As a result, divisional moving image files 521 to 524 aredisplayed in the window 300.

If the user selects the divisional moving image file 523 and issues thezoom-in instruction, the control unit 101 increments the division depthD to 3. As a result, divisional moving image files 531 to 534 aredisplayed in the window 300. In this state, if the user issues thezoom-out instruction, the control unit 101 decrements the division depthD to 2, a group of divisional moving image files including thedivisional moving image files 531 to 534 is selected and displayed inthe window 300.

Thus, if the moving image files as the reproduction targets do notinclude a scene desired by the user, the user may easily change themoving image files and start a new search by executing the zoom-outoperation.

Aspects of the embodiments may also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a central processing unit (CPU)or a micro processing unit (MPU)) that reads out and executes a programrecorded on a memory device to perform the functions of theabove-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the operations of whichare performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example,reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device toperform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

Further, the present exemplary embodiment may also be realized bysupplying software (e.g., a program or a set of instructions) forrealizing the functions of the above exemplary embodiments to a systemor an apparatus via a network or via various storage media, and having aCPU or an MPU of the system or apparatus read and execute the program orthe instructions recorded/stored on an article of manufacture having amemory device or a non-transitory storage medium to perform operationsor functions of the above-described embodiments. In this case, thisprogram and the recording medium on which the program is recorded/storedconstitute one disclosed aspect of the embodiments. In addition, theprogram may be executed by one computer, or by a plurality of computerslinked together.

Disclosed aspects of the embodiments may be realized by an apparatus, amachine, a method, a process, or an article of manufacture that includesa non-transitory storage medium having a program or instructions that,when executed by a machine or a processor, cause the machine orprocessor to perform operations as described above. The method may be acomputerized method to perform the operations with the use of acomputer, a machine, a processor, or a programmable device. Theoperations in the method involve physical objects or entitiesrepresenting a machine or a particular apparatus (e.g., a moving image,divisional moving images). In addition, the operations in the methodtransform the elements or parts from one state to another state. Thetransformation is particularized and focused on reproducing a movingimage. The transformation provides a different function or use such asdividing a moving image, reproducing the plurality of divisional movingimages, receiving an instruction, acquiring a reproduction position,etc.

In addition, elements of one embodiment may be implemented by hardware,firmware, software or any combination thereof. The term hardwaregenerally refers to an element having a physical structure such aselectronic, electromagnetic, optical, electro-optical, mechanical,electro-mechanical parts, etc. A hardware implementation may includeanalog or digital circuits, devices, processors, applications specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), or any optical, electromechanical,electromagnetic, or electronic devices. The term software generallyrefers to a logical structure, a method, a procedure, a program, aroutine, a process, an algorithm, a formula, a function, an expression,etc. A software implementation typically includes realizing the aboveelements (e.g., logical structure, method, procedure, program) asinstruction codes and/or data elements embedded in one or more storagedevices and executable and/or accessible by a processor, a CPU/MPU, or aprogrammable device as discussed above. The term firmware generallyrefers to a logical structure, a method, a procedure, a program, aroutine, a process, an algorithm, a formula, a function, an expression,etc., that is implemented or embodied in a hardware structure (e.g.,flash memory). Examples of firmware may include microcode, writablecontrol store, micro-programmed structure. When implemented in softwareor firmware, the elements of an embodiment may be the code segments toperform the necessary tasks. The software/firmware may include theactual code to carry out the operations described in one embodiment, orcode that emulates or simulates the operations.

All or part of an embodiment may be implemented by various meansdepending on applications according to particular features, functions.These means may include hardware, software, or firmware, or anycombination thereof. A hardware, software, or firmware element may haveseveral modules or units coupled to one another. A hardware module/unitis coupled to another module/unit by mechanical, electrical, optical,electromagnetic or any physical connections. A software module/unit iscoupled to another module by a function, procedure, method, subprogram,or subroutine call, a jump, a link, a parameter, variable, and argumentpassing, a function return, etc. A software module/unit is coupled toanother module/unit to receive variables, parameters, arguments,pointers, etc. and/or to generate or pass results, updated variables,pointers, etc. A firmware module/unit is coupled to another module/unitby any combination of hardware and software coupling methods above. Ahardware, software, or firmware module/unit may be coupled to any one ofanother hardware, software, or firmware module/unit. A module/unit mayalso be a software driver or interface to interact with the operatingsystem running on the platform. A module/unit may also be a hardwaredriver to configure, set up, initialize, send and receive data to andfrom a hardware device. An apparatus may include any combination ofhardware, software, and firmware modules/units.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments arenot limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2011-026356 filed Feb. 9, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A moving image reproducing apparatus comprising:a division unit configured to temporally divide a moving image file intoa plurality of first divisional moving image files having equal timeintervals; a reproduction unit configured to simultaneously reproducethe first divisional moving image files which were temporally divided; aselection unit configured to select one of the first divisional movingimage files, while the reproduction unit reproduces the first divisionalmoving image files, in response to a user's instruction; an acquisitionunit configured to acquire a reproduction position of the selected firstdivisional moving image file in response to the user's instruction; asearching unit configured to search one of a plurality of seconddivisional moving image files from among the plurality of seconddivisional moving image files acquired by dividing the selected firstmoving image file by said division unit, including the acquiredreproduction position of the selected first divisional moving imagefile; and a calculation unit configured to calculate time between abeginning position of the searched second divisional moving image fileand a position of the searched second divisional moving image filecorresponding to the acquired reproduction position of the selectedfirst divisional moving image file, wherein the reproduction unit startsthe reproduction of the plurality of second divisional moving imagefiles from a position where the calculated time has elapsed from abeginning position of each of the second divisional moving image filessimultaneously.
 2. The moving image reproducing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a change unit configured to simultaneouslychange reproduction positions of the plurality of divisional movingimage files that are being reproduced, in response to an instructioninput via an operation unit.
 3. The moving image reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit configured todisplay a guide indicating reproduction positions of a plurality ofdivisional moving image files that are being reproduced by thereproduction unit, on a time bar representing an entire moving imagefile.
 4. The moving image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, while the reproduction unit reproduces sound of one of theplurality of divisional moving image files, the reproduction unit doesnot reproduce sound of the other divisional moving image files.
 5. Amethod for reproducing a moving image file, the method comprising:dividing temporally a moving image file into a plurality of firstdivisional moving image files having equal time intervals; reproducingsimultaneously the first plurality of divisional moving image fileswhich were temporally divided; selecting one of the first divisionalmoving image files, while reproducing the first divisional moving imagefiles, in response to a user's instruction; acquiring a reproductionposition of the selected first divisional moving image file in responseto the user's instruction; searching one of a plurality of seconddivisional moving image files from among the plurality of seconddivisional moving image files acquired by dividing the selected firstmoving image file, including the acquired reproduction position of theselected first divisional moving image file; and calculating timebetween a beginning position of the searched second divisional movingimage file and a position of the searched second divisional moving imagefile corresponding to the acquired reproduction position of the selectedfirst divisional moving image file, wherein the reproduction of theplurality of second divisional moving image files starts from a positionwhere the calculated time has elapsed from a beginning position of eachof the second divisional moving image files simultaneously.
 6. Acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executedby a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:dividing temporally a moving image file into a plurality of firstdivisional moving image files having equal time intervals; reproducingsimultaneously the first plurality of divisional moving image files weretemporally divided; selecting one of the first divisional moving imagefiles, while reproducing the first divisional moving image files, inresponse to a user's instruction; acquiring a reproduction position ofthe selected first divisional moving image file in response to theuser's instruction; searching one of a plurality of second divisionalmoving image files from among the plurality of second divisional movingimage files acquired by dividing the selected first moving image file,including the acquired reproduction position of the selected firstdivisional moving image file; and calculating time between a beginningposition of the searched second divisional moving image file and aposition of the searched second divisional moving image filecorresponding to the acquired reproduction position of the selectedfirst divisional moving image file, wherein the reproduction of theplurality of second divisional moving image files starts from a positionwhere the calculated time has elapsed from a beginning position of eachof the second divisional moving image files simultaneously.